スポンサーサイト

Young Stars in Old Farm Villages

The "Regional Youth Resettlement Cooperative (RYRC)" program is attracting youth from urban areas. They move to underpopulated regions, participate in farming and support the elderly. This program will be an effective measure to enhance Japan's self-sufficiency of food.

The Ministry of General Affairs launched the RYRC in order to encourage young people to live in underpopulated regions. The participants are not specialists who have technological skills or experience but common young adults in cities. They assist the local residents in farming, shoveling snow, shopping, going to the doctors or anything else that is required, receiving some 160,000 yen per month from the local governments.

The precedent for this program is the "Green Home Town Cooperative" operated by the NPO, "Earth Greening Center". The center arranges internship for young adults who are interested in farming for one year. The host communities prepare housing and pay a monthly stipend of 50,000 yen. Thus far, 465 people have participated in the program. Nearly 40% of them have decided to settle in the communities since their internship ended.

In rural areas, local people interact more like one big family. The newcomers are welcomed in the underpopulated regions by the older residents. By helping the seniors with their choirs, they are appreciated and gain a sense of importance and self-esteem.

The depression motivates young adults to participate in the cooperatives. This program is effective not only to energize underpopulated regions but also as a measure against unemployment. Furthermore, if they settle in the farm villages, they will contribute to Japan's food supply. This program is a very effective measure to train young people for farmers, preparing for food crises.